State Senator Butch Miller urged residents not to panic over the coronavirus outbreak, but he said everyone needs to follow federal guidelines on social distancing to stop the disease’s spread.
The Gainesville Republican also said the state has no immediate plans to shut down any businesses or industries, leaving that decision to local leaders and business owners. And he said the state is considering following the federal government’s lead and may push back the income tax deadline.
“The number one thing we can do is stay calm,” Miller said. “Then we need to educate people on social distancing, the CDC guidance on washing your hands.”
Miller made his comments during a conference call Friday afternoon with local media. He is currently self-quarantined at his home after state Sen. Brandon Beach showed up for Monday’s legislative special session despite showing symptoms of COVID-19. He was later diagnosed with the disease. Miller and other lawmakers are self-quarantined until March 30.
Georgia has 420 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 13 deaths, according to numbers released at noon by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Although the most heavily populated counties in metro Atlanta have the most cases, a hot spot has developed in Southwest Georgia, where several members of a church congregation became infected after attending funerals on back-to-back days.
Miller also said hot spots have popped up around Cartersville and Dublin, as well. Those also appear to be related to church gatherings.
“This is a great opportunity for our faith leaders to really step up and be leaders of the whole community,” Miller said. “They need to encourage online services, communicate with their people through e-mail and phone calls and not to be gathering in large groups.”
Miller said the state does not have a backlog of tests ready to be used, so only people who are symptomatic are getting tested.
“We are only testing high-risk individuals and are prioritizing the tests that way,” Miller said. “I think that’s very prudent given the number of tests we’ve got that we’re using them the right way.”
Miller said the state is working hard to increase the supplies for medical professional, saying some 500,000 pairs of gloves, 26,000 gowns and 1,200 ventilators should soon be available for doctors.
He also said the Department of Public Health was working to streamline the process hospitals would use to acquire these supplies.
On the income tax question, Miller said the state will consider moving the deadline from April 15 to July 15, which is what federal government announced earlier in the day.
“The state of Georgia is looking at something similar, but we’re waiting to see what the final details of the plan is so that the state government plan is in line with it,” Miller said. “But we have to keep in mind that will have a negative impact on state revenues and the state’s ability to provide services.”
Miller said he will spend the next 10 days keeping his distance from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
“I’m asymptomatic,” he said. “I have not run a fever. I do not have a cough. I feel great.”
